These Are Our Fellow Americans *Open Thread*

I saw a trailer for Jesse Watters’ latest “report,” and was stunned by the ignorance displayed by so many of our fellow Americans. Thanks to Legal Insurrection, I was able to view the entire thing. And now you can, too (it’s only 3 1/2 minutes, but oh, my – a lot of stupidity is included in that short time):

Wow. Just wow. Bergdahl = Bird dog; Gitmo = Club Gitmo; ISIS = loneliness, and on I could go. It is truly disturbing to see this representation of American citizens. “Clueless” doesn’t begin to touch it.

And in case you think this is an anomaly, here is the “X Games Edition” from two weeks ago:

Holy. Smokes. If ever there was an indictment of our educational system in this country, these would do it. Sadly, there are WAY more examples. But people don’t know the most BASIC of information, including the name of our NATIONAL ANTHEM. Wow. Wow. Wow.

I don’t know if there is any reasonable excuse for this level of ignorance among our populace, do you? I mean, I know not everyone in the country is going to be a Mensa candidate or anything, but for heaven’s sake, the lack of just general knowledge among these folks is truly disturbing.

President Obama says the media is to blame for widespread fears over terrorism because news outlets prioritize stories about chaos over less “sexy” ones.

“What’s the famous saying about local newscasts, right? If it bleeds, it leads, right? You show crime stories and you show fires, because that’s what folks watch, and it’s all about ratings. And, you know, the problems of terrorism and dysfunction and chaos, along with plane crashes and a few other things, that’s the equivalent when it comes to covering international affairs,” Obama told Vox.com in an interview published Monday.

“There’s just not going to be a lot of interest in a headline story that we have cut infant mortality by really significant amounts over the last 20 years or that extreme poverty has been slashed,” he added. “It’s not a sexy story.” […] (Click here to read the rest.)

Yes, that’s exactly why the media is reporting on terrorism – because it’s “sexy.” Are you freakin’ KIDDING me with this? “Sexy”?? It can’t be the burning alive of a Jordanian pilot, or the killing of THOUSANDS of people by both ISIS and Boko Haram just recently, or the increase of violence by the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Nope. That isn’t it. It isn’t the actual bombings or gunning down of innocent women, children and the elderly that is why the media is reporting on terror attacks. That couldn’t be it. Stunning. Just stunning.

But in complete contradiction to his claim about the media, Obama said this as CNN reported:

[…] “I get a thick book full of death, destruction, strife, and chaos. That’s what I take with my morning tea,” he said in a wide-ranging interview with Vox on his foreign and domestic policy priorities published Monday.

He said that the “basic goals” on national defense that he set when he came into office — preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, protecting against terrorism and trying to improve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — “still hold true.” But he acknowledged that people “rightly have been concerned” about the “forces of disorder — sectarianism” in Middle Eastern countries that have contributed to the challenges in that part of the world.

“It is entirely legitimate for the American people to be deeply concerned when you’ve got a bunch of violent, vicious zealots who behead people or randomly shoot a bunch of folks in a deli in Paris,” Obama allowed. […] (Click here to read the rest.)

I’m sure Obama DOES get a “thick book full of death” every day – so why downplay the very real threats we face at the hands of ISLAMIC terrorists? And why the hell can he not note that JEWS in France were killed specifically BECAUSE they were Jews by Islamic extremists?? The deli shooting was NO random event, nor were the people in there just some unlucky folks (h/t mcnorman for mentioning this issue). This insistence to deny reality, to deny that these were Islamic terrorists hellbent on killing Jews is obscene.

But then there was this astonishing claim by Obama in the Vox interview, as reported by the Washington Post:

[…] In a wide-ranging interview with Vox.com released this week, Obama said that the “trajectory of this planet overall is one toward less violence, more tolerance, less strife, less poverty.” The most pressing challenge, he said, is “disorder. Failed states. Asymmetric threats from terrorist organizations.” Obama said he has tried to ensure that the administration has “more tools in its toolkit” to deal with current and future problems and does not rely on a foreign policy playbook that dates back to World War II. […] (Click here to read the rest.)

And there you have it. We can blame “disorder” for the state things are in, but hey – things are looking up! There is less violence in the world now. Especially if you claim the terrorist threats are “asymmetric.” And there is more tolerance now – just ask Jews in Europe, like in Paris where they can’t get to Israel fast enough. Or like in Belgium where a teacher actually said this to a Jewish student: “We should put you all on freight wagons.”

I am literally shaking my head. These are our fellow Americans, and this is our President. Heaven help us.

People may disagree about Kayla and her activities in the mideast, however, she did try to help unlike so many in this country who yell, burn, loot and shut down freeways to advance ???? based on Rev. Al’s philosophy – money fleecing, tax evasion and being an attention hog.
RIP Kayla – may one day your family and friends remember the joy you brought into their lives.

It WAS creepy lighting, but then again, Klein, Yglesias, and Obama are all kinda creepy, so I reckon it was fitting! Like I said, Obama really paid back Klein for all the work Klein has done for hm over the past 7 years…

Am refusing to watch as my penchant for throwing objects at tv sets and computers is on the increase. Nothing crazier or funnier than watching a senior swearing and throwing small projectiles at larger objects.

<With his usual calm good sense Thomas Sowell wades into the vaccine controversy. Armed with facts not hysteria and baloney. Refreshing change.

Measles, Vaccines and Autism

The current controversy over whether parents should be forced to have their children vaccinated for measles is one of the painful signs of our times. Measles was virtually wiped out in the United States, years ago. Why the resurgence of this disease now?

The short answer is that false claims, based on other false claims, led many parents to stop getting their children vaccinated against measles.

E. Cummings needs to step away from WH scripted notes or put down the bottle.
Time for me to step away from the computer – going to see ‘The Imitation Game’ about Alan Turing – hope the movie is more factual than fiction.
I’m refuse to stop using the word ‘hope’ even though it’s associated with the Greatest Prez. that ever breathe.

I’m actually going to defend these students because I remember when I was young, naive and into myself – life on college campuses was full of fun, freedoms, romance and life. I protested against our involvement in Nam but not against the soldiers, LBJ and higher-up yes. Eventually after college, reality comes into play and you make adjustments in their thinking and policies. My dh was a political science major who shared his knowledge and opinions with me was quite the news hound which I also became.
During my younger years, my father shared current and historical events but like so many children we processed only a bit.

I can appreciate your take, especially for the students, but not all of those people were students. Many of them looked like full-fledged adults, both in FL and in CO. Too many people in this country are woefully ignorant of what is really going on these days. With all of the access to the internet, and everyone glued to their Iphones, not knowing even the most basic of news, like who the TALIBAN is, is a tad problematic.

Agree with you but I confess that I didn’t watch the entire clip.
BTW – The Imitation Game was awesome, good acting and good script. Now I want to learn more about Turing and his life.So thankful for him and genius / work during WWII.

Some no so shocking video Amy–But thank you.
Trying to figure out if it was that I lived in college campus housing in San Francisco from kinder to 4th grade or what…
I’m not trying to brag but I can remember talking about a lot of history while I was living in San Francisco..and even while in Houston as a middle school and high school teen
I think a lot of it had to do with a very different curriculum than we have today. From at least 4th grade on I can remember spending more than 30 minutes a day on history and/or geography in school.

Thank you for sharing this, Helen. It is truly a tragedy, and it makes no sense that Obama would trade any Taliban members ANYWAY, much less for a deserter (alleged) like Bergdahl. To not work harder to get our journalists and aid workers released, though, speaks volumes.

Anyway, it is very sad what happened to her, and very sad what is happening to our country. Truly upsetting…